antagonistic
Americanadjective
-
acting in opposition; opposing, especially mutually.
-
hostile; unfriendly.
adjective
-
in active opposition
-
mutually opposed
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of antagonistic
First recorded in 1625–35; antagonist + -ic
Explanation
If you're antagonistic, you're hard to get along with. Harmony is not your friend — you prefer hostility and struggle. If you're antagonistic to your little brother, you're always picking on him and giving him a hard time — causing him agony — a word that's buried in antagonistic. Even drugs or chemicals can be antagonistic: if you take a sleeping pill and then follow it with a few cups of espresso, the interaction is likely to be antagonistic. The sleeping pill and the caffeine struggle against each other and you're not likely to get much sleep.
Vocabulary lists containing antagonistic
Opposites Attract
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
A Wrinkle in Time
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Divergent
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
On the fluffier human-interest side, in the bright light of morning programming, her interviewing style looked more antagonistic than sharp.
From Slate • May 6, 2026
Zeitz had an antagonistic relationship with many Harley dealers, who felt that he boosted the parent company’s profit margins at their expense.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 5, 2026
But since Mamdani took office, the relationship has proven less antagonistic.
From BBC • Apr. 13, 2026
Peller noted “consternation around the potential for an antagonistic approach towards not only issuers but broader financials despite what was believed to be a lenient regulatory environment.”
From MarketWatch • Jan. 13, 2026
“We had tenant councils of a sort prior to Operation Breakthrough,” he explained, “but they weren’t as antagonistic as the councils formed by Operation Breakthrough.”
From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
